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12/30/44

Ketoi: Well, shoot. There is going to be an afternoon phase.

To this point it seems like the ingressing carriers, combat TFs, and main transport TFs are clear of the danger zone. Erik caught and is battering tail-end Charlie.

12/30/44

Ketoi

12/30/44

Ketoi: More damage and destruction to useful ships. At this point, I'm thinking: "End turn! End!" I'm also thinking I'm glad the little carrier TF wasn't posted in this vicinity. Had Erik managed a consolidated strike, I think my flattops would've been in trouble.

12/30/44

Ketoi

12/30/44

Ketoi: Sitting ducks lead a charmed life.

12/30/44

Wakkanai: Allied LRCAP over Wakkanai hasn't faced enemy opposition the past three days and, each day, has downed enemy transports (probably bringing in supply).

So the afternoon phase is over. Messages received that several damaged ships (including an AK and an xAP) sink. The units involved were two base forces.

12/30/44

Wakkanai: Effective bombardments and counter-bombardments. The Japanese garrison is weakening and is susceptible to defeat.

My army needs at least one more day of rest before attacking.

Alot of attention will be given to countermeasures for a IJ effort to reinforce by sea.

12/30/44

NoPac: All that was too close for comfort.

Over the past few turns, I reached the conclusion that this was probably the last ingressing armada that wouldn't be fully protected by Death Star.

In the medium term, once spring arrives, the Allies will begin a campaign to take the remaining Kuriles. Until the threat posed by enemy airfields is eliminated, Death Star will provide security.

I can't rely on LBA to suppress - that's too uncertain and the bombers are needed elsewhere.

12/30/44

SigInt: Continuing to show enemy units inbound to Hokkaido, including at least one division and one brigade. Erik is taking precautions.

Allied plans do not include a larger incursion into Hokkaido in the near-term, with limited forays in the medium- to long-term. Shorter term plans on the ground are aimed at the Kuriles. The main emphasis in the near term will continue to be air operations to deal with Erik's fighter corps. When the Wakkanai operation wraps up, Death Star will report to Shikuka to rehabilitate aircraft squadrons and in preparation for a big egress mission that will include the damaged combat ships and the host of empties that have come in since the last egress mission.

12/31/44

NoPac: It's New Years Eve. I don't have any real fireworks planned. Here's the main things I'm looking at/for as the turn opens.

12/31/44

Wakkanai: Allied bombardment tepid, but no signs of enemy combat TFs or transports.

12/31/44

Wakkanai: The first of many Allied sweeps over the Japanese army moving north. No enemy CAP encountered. So Allied bombers will have clear shots. They won't cause much damage in wooded terrain, but they will slow down the advance by at least a day, giving 2nd Marine Div. enough time to reach the hex before the Japs do.

12/31/44

Wakkanai: The first of several bomber strikes targeting the enemy army advancing to the wooded hex. No opposition...but the bombers target base forces. Augh! (Later raids target the infantry divisions.)

So the objective of slowing the enemy advance just a bit is achieved.

I don't think Erik has the slightest chance of saving Wakkanai by ground. I think that's so clear that Erik realizes it to. So the purpose of this advance has to be to bottle up the Allied army at Wakkanai. Since the Allied army will be staying there anyhow, this suits me. If he keeps his army forward it'll be at least two hexes by yellow road from the closest base - IE, out of position to respond to threats elsewhere.

12/31/44

Wakkanai: A single IJ unit just advanced from Bihoro into this wooded hex. My fighters were busy elsewhere, so a handful of 2EB ordered to strike at low level (3k), on the belief no strong AA is present. The two raids do a pretty good job of disabling units in 8th Division.

I don't see a movement dot, so this may be a blocking force. Erik may cover the unit by LRCAP tomorrow, so I'll consider shifting my sweeps to this hex.

12/31/44

Air Losses: Most fighter losses today due to Japanese sweeps of Toyohara. This turned out at about 1:1, but Army fighters are deeper than Navy, so this suits me.

More Emilys shot down bringing supply to Wakkanai (I think that's what they're doing).

12/31/44

NoPac: The ingressing herd is still much more ragged than I'd like, but no enemy air strikes today. All of the TFs should reach Shikuka tonight, hauling 750k supply and about 225k fuel.

12/31/44

Wakkanai: Try to measure enemy intentions as to Wakkanai.

1/1/45

NoPac: The new year opens with a decent bombardment that also indicates Erik won't be trying to bring in reinforcements by sea today (if he were, he'd first send in combat TFs to deal with the Allied warships).

1/1/45

Wakkanai: This is a fast transport TF bringing in part of a base force. A separate LST TF will bring in a tank destroyer unit. Both TFs will take some damage from shore guns. The objective is to trigger another Japanese bombardment.

1/1/45

Wakkanai: This is what I was hoping for - a chance for Allied sweepers to square off against enemy LRCAP. In the past, Erik's good fighters have been most vulnerable under these conditions.

The first sweep goes in favor of the Allies at a 15:6 ratio.